Varanasi is famous for Silk ie: Banarasi Silks. Brassware, Copperware, Wooden and Clay Toys and exquisite Gold Jewellery are some of the other craft the city is famous for. The hand knotted carpets of Mirzapur and musical instruments are among the other shopping attractions. Varanasi is also famous for its ‘ Langda’ or ‘Malda mangoes’, a variety of juicy mangoes that have a craze all over India. Betel leaf is also a specialty. Varanasi have popular personality like Ravi Shankar and Ustad Bismillah Khan as its patron boasts of skillfully designed musical instruments that are famous throughout the world. These include among others Sitars, Tabla, Pakhawaj and Shehnai. For brassware, the best area is the Thatheri Bazaar. Gyanvapi and the Temple bazaar are also well known for their Gold Jewellery Shops. The main shopping places in Varanasi are Godaulia Chowk, Vishwanath Gali, Gyanvapi and Thatheri Bazar. For silk, the best place is the Temple bazaar in Vishwanath Gali. Qazi Sadullahpura, a Muslim neighbourhood is an important silk weaving centre. Sometimes, however, it is difficult to make judgements on price and quality.
Carpets
A majority of carpets exported from India come from Varanasi and its neighboring areas. This carpet belt specializes in traditional Indian wollen carpets and Durries. Varanasi and its neighboring areas are well known for carpet making. The Varanasi-Bhadohi-Mirzapur belt in Uttar Pradesh produces maximum number of carpets in the country. The carpets produced in Varanasi region are famous for the excellence in quality and design. Every carpet that is woven here has a distinctive grace and unmatched style that speak volumes about the carpet weaving tradition of Varanasi and its surrounding areas. The stylish and quality of the carpets also proves the genius of the traditional carpet weavers of Varanasi region.
Banarasi Saree
Since long time Banarasi Saree has been an important part of the Indian bride wardrobe and rarely fails to flatter a woman, making her feel delicate and feminine. The Banarasi sari comes mainly in four different varieties. They are pure silk (katan); organza (kora) with zari and silk; georgette, and shattir. Sari weaving is kind of a cottage industry for millions of people around Varanasi. Most of the silk for the Banarasi saris comes from south India, mainly Banglore. The weaving of Banarasi sari involves teamwork. Ideally three people are engaged in making the Sari. One weaves, the other works at the revolving ring to create bundles. At this point, another important process begins. This is related to designing the motifs. The normal Banarasi Sari takes around 15 days to one month and sometimes more time to finish. However, this is not a hard and fast rule as all depends on the complexity of designs and patterns to be produced on the sari.